Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music

Last updated
Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music
Awarded forAchievement in excellence in music
Country United Kingdom (UK)
Presented by British Phonographic Industry (BPI)
First award1977
Currently held by Kylie Minogue (2024)
Most awards Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Elton John (3)
Website www.brits.co.uk

The Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music is the Lifetime Achievement award given by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), [1] [2] an organisation which represents record companies and artists in the United Kingdom. [3] The accolade is presented at the Brit Awards, an annual celebration of British and international music. [4] The honourees are determined by the Brit Awards voting academy with over one-thousand members, which comprise record labels, publishers, managers, agents, media, and previous winners and nominees. [5]

Contents

History

The award was first presented in 1977 and was subsequently awarded annually from 1982 to 2010. The award has since been presented intermittently as the BRIT's Icon Award, with the original name being re-instated at the 2019 Brit Awards ceremony. [6] Since 2000, the Classic BRIT Awards have also annually presented their own Outstanding Contribution to Music Award. [7] The award was last presented under its original name at 2019 Brit Awards. [8] However, the Global Icon Award, which was described as the BRIT's "highest accolade", and an international version of the BRIT's Icon Award, was presented in 2021 to Taylor Swift. [9]

Elton John, Paul McCartney and John Lennon are the artists with the most wins with three awards. U2 were the first international band to receive the BRIT award while Pink and Bob Geldof were the first female solo artist and the first international artist to receive it respectively. Cecilia Bartoli and Andrea Bocelli were the first female soloist and international artist respectively to receive the Classic BRIT Award. Freddie Mercury's last public appearance before his death from HIV/AIDS would be when he accepted the award in 1990 as a member of Queen. [10]

Contemporary winners

Paul McCartney received the award in 1977 and 1983 as part of The Beatles and in 2008 as a solo artist Paul-mccartney-1350317931.jpg
Paul McCartney received the award in 1977 and 1983 as part of The Beatles and in 2008 as a solo artist
1986, 1995 and 2014 honouree Elton John Elton John in Norway 4.jpg
1986, 1995 and 2014 honouree Elton John
1998 winners Fleetwood Mac Fleetwood Mac November 2014.jpg
1998 winners Fleetwood Mac
2024 winner Kylie Minogue Kylie Minogue at The Queen's Birthday Party (cropped).jpg
2024 winner Kylie Minogue
  Indicates a non-British artist
YearRecipient(s)
1977 LG Wood and The Beatles
1982 John Lennon (posthumously)
1983 The Beatles
1984 George Martin [11]
1985 The Police [12]
1986 Elton John and Wham! [13]
1987 Eric Clapton [14]
1988 The Who [15]
1989 Cliff Richard (Lifetime Achievement Award) [16]
1990 Queen [17]
1991 Status Quo [18]
1992 Freddie Mercury (posthumously) [19]
1993 Rod Stewart [20]
1994 Van Morrison [21]
1995 Elton John [22]
1996 David Bowie [23]
1997 Bee Gees [24]
1998 Fleetwood Mac [25]
1999 Eurythmics [26]
2000 Spice Girls [27]
2001 Flag of Ireland.svg U2 [28]
2002 Sting [29]
2003 Tom Jones [30]
2004 Duran Duran [31]
2005 Flag of Ireland.svg Bob Geldof [32]
2006 Paul Weller [33]
2007 Oasis [34]
2008 Paul McCartney [35]
2009 Pet Shop Boys [36]
2010 Robbie Williams [37]
2012 Blur [38]
2014 Elton John (Icon Award) [39]
2016 David Bowie (Icon Award) [40]
2017 Robbie Williams (Icon Award) [41]
2019 Flag of the United States.svg Pink [8]
2021 Flag of the United States.svg Taylor Swift (Global Icon Award) [9]
2024 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kylie Minogue (Global Icon Award) [42]

Classic winners

Inaugural winner Nigel Kennedy Nigel Kennedy (3).jpg
Inaugural winner Nigel Kennedy
Composer John Williams received the award in 2012 John Williams Hollywood Bowl.jpg
Composer John Williams received the award in 2012
YearRecipient
2000 Flag of England.svg Nigel Kennedy
2001 Flag of England.svg Simon Rattle
2002 Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Bocelli
2003 Flag of Italy.svg Cecilia Bartoli
2004 Flag of the United States.svg Renée Fleming
2005 Flag of Ireland.svg James Galway
2006 Flag of Spain.svg Placido Domingo
2007 Flag of England.svg Vernon Handley
2008 Flag of England.svg Andrew Lloyd Webber
2009 Flag of Spain.svg José Carreras
2010 Flag of New Zealand.svg Kiri Te Kanawa
2011 Flag of England.svg John Barry (posthumously)
2012 Flag of the United States.svg John Williams
2013 Flag of Germany.svg Hans Zimmer
2014 Flag of Italy.svg Luciano Pavarotti (posthumously)
2018 Flag of England.svg Vera Lynn

Artists with multiple wins

References

  1. White, Adam (20 February 2019). "Pink is mediocre and American – why are the Brits giving her a lifetime achievement award?". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  2. Sherwin, Adam (12 December 2012). "War Child get special Brit Award as lifetime achievement gong dropped". The Independent . Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  3. "About the BPI". British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Archived from the original on 6 December 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  4. "BRIT Awards". British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  5. "And the nominees are..." Brits.co.uk. British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  6. "Here's a FULL LIST of who's won the BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution". Capitalfm.com. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  7. "Classic BRITs - Outstanding Contributions & Lifetime Achievement Awards". Classicfm.com. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  8. 1 2 "P!nk to receive the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award". BRIT Awards. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  9. 1 2 "Taylor Swift to receive Global Icon Award!". BRIT Awards. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  10. "Remembering Freddie Mercury's final public appearance at the 1990 Brit Awards". smoothradio.com. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
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  13. "Brit Awards 1986". Brit Awards. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
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  32. Smith, David (30 January 2005). "We should share in 'Saint' Bob's Brit award, complain former Rats". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  33. "Paul Weller to be honoured at next year's Brits". Nme.com. 21 November 2005. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  34. "Oasis 'Outstanding' at BRIT Awards". Nme.com. 14 February 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  35. Nicole Martin (21 February 2008). "Outstanding Brit award lifts Sir Paul McCartney". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  36. "Pet Shop Boys accept Outstanding Contribution To Music award at BRITs". Nme.com. 18 February 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  37. "Robbie Williams for 'Outstanding Contribution To Music' BRIT". Nme.com. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  38. Singh, Anita (8 December 2011). "Brit Awards: Blur honoured for outstanding contribution". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  39. "Elton John honoured with BRITs Icon Award". BRIT Awards.
  40. "WATCH: David Bowie receives Icon Award at the Brits". Hotpress.
  41. "Robbie Williams: BRITs Icon". BRIT Awards.
  42. "Kylie Minogue to receive Brits global icon award and will perform at ceremony".